tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762864985840094982017-08-31T12:24:12.537-07:00Jack WalshJackson Walshnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-74667260632643637862014-11-06T20:18:00.002-08:002014-11-10T17:07:45.900-08:00KSU Hockey<div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kennesaw</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>’s hockey program joins the plethora of excitement surrounding Owl athletics, striking excitement in students, growing in popularity, and even becoming a winning team. Coming off a one-year suspension during the 2013-2014 season, which was due to team members violating a club policy when team members trashed a hotel room, the Owls have resumed at full strength sporting a 7-2 record to start their 2014-2015 campaign with wins over Tulane, Ole Miss, and cross-state rival Life University.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A Division III club sport competing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the Owls have had success in the past on a national scale, winning the National Championship in 2006-07 and have competed on the national level a few times since. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The team currently plays their home games at Kennesaw’s Ice Forum and draw a significant amount of fans from the local community. Right Wing Alex Dolhon favorably compares the attendance at Owls home games to that of other arenas the team has visited on the road. Boasting about 500 to 1,000 fans per game, KSU is one of the ACHA’s leaders in overall game attendance and it shows a significant impact on the players momentum.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“We went to like, <st1:city w:st="on">Nashville</st1:city>, they had no fans, <st1:city w:st="on">Charleston</st1:city>, they don’t have any fans. Nothing compares to playing at home. The atmosphere and the home field advantage is just great.” said Dolhon. “People like hockey around here. I think they just enjoy the games. We’re a good team, so they enjoy the games. When the fans are louder, I think we feel better hearing the chants and all that it’s a great atmosphere.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Despite Kennesaw’s winning success and growing fanbase on home ice, the players know that the hockey dream stops on <st1:street w:st="on">Barrett Parkway</st1:street>. Being a club sport, they will not have the opportunity to become professional in the sport following graduation. The motive behind being apart of KSU hockey is truly for the love of the game “I’ve been playing for about 14 years now and I love the game, and it’s addicting.” said Dolhon “My cousin got me into hockey and I started becoming a big fan and started playing.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Assistant captain and center Rick Fiorillo says that playing the game is more of a release to relieve stress "The whole year we weren't playing hockey, I was going crazy. I had to work out every day." said Fiorillo. "I love hockey, it's a relases and I enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie of the team."<br /><br /><br />The team shares a tight chemistry on and off the ice, advertising their games outside KSU's Commons area and spending time with other team members. "We are always in contact with each other, working out at the gym together, eating lunch in the Commons, there's a good strong bond." said Fiorillo "We all know that we aren't going anywhere, that this is our last opportunity to play good hockey, so it's very much for love of the game."<br /><br />Owls hockey has many exciting renovations to look forward to. The goal of the team is to reach Division II within the next season and they will also have a new ice hockey rink built behind the Party City on Barrett Parkway within the next year which will help the team's constant time restraints at the Ice Forum whilst providing them with a new home complete with their own locker room.&nbsp; <br /></div>Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-27257836987237748692014-11-02T11:01:00.000-08:002014-11-03T21:53:06.121-08:00Georgia's youngest representative runs unopposed, defends agenda<div class="MsoNormal">Georgia’s youngest Representative Michael Caldwell, after both losing a run for State legislature in 2010 and becoming the state of Georgia’s youngest state representative, runs unopposed in 2014 defending his views on small government by articulating the rights Americans have that makes us unique from the rest of the world. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A dual citizen of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:country-region>, <st1:place w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:place>has a wide knowledge on the government’s role in citizens’ rights. He cites the Constitution’s statement of unalienable rights from our creator as rights separate from the government and the issue of divinity, that we have these rights not because they are given, but because we are human beings. <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city> states that we are among the “Fortunate five percent” to take part in the Great American experiment of self-government that makes the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>stand out from the government of other nations.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">”The sole fundamental difference in American government is that in our founding documents we recognize that our rights are given to us by our creator” said <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city>. “And whatever you believe about divinity couldn’t matter less because what the difference is that we are the first nation in the history of the world, the only nation since, to recognize that our rights come from something other than government.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Youth and adults that <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city>have spoken to have been unable to articulate a strong answer to the question “What makes <st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place>the greatest nation in the history of the world?” They are rarely taught, <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city> says, this principle in governing. When we are taught the difference between <st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place>and every other “free” country we can take pride in the liberty that we established in the Western world.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“When I travel under my <st1:country-region w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:country-region> passport, when I deal with their government, they understand that I have rights solely because her majesty the Queen of England has granted me her sovereign rights. That’s the only reason I have rights. Any time she decides I don’t have rights, she is the sovereign. I no longer have rights.” said <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city> “Under my American passport, I am the sovereign. I have rights because I’m a human being. The core princle here is the approach that you have rights that I didn’t give you is a unique approach.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:place>has observed that the debate of rights often turns into a discussion of the separation of church and state, in which he argues is a different subject than that of unalienable rights. However you believe the rights originated, there are certain rights core to us as individuals. Aside from the primary purpose of government to protect these liberties of the people, the smaller the government the better.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city> weekly hosts a coffee discussion held with other District representatives at Copper Coin Coffee in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Woodstock</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region></st1:place>. &nbsp;Around a small table with slow jazz music playing and each person in attendance holding a cup or mug, the discussion of rights shifted to the state of police not being aware of the rights that citizens have in the instance of police encounters without a warrant. “By no means do I believe that we are on a frightening police path yet, but we are on an interesting path if we don’t state precedent” said District 21 representative Scot Turner “And not just educating police officers, but educating citizenry. That’s the problem is that police become 007’s. ‘I feared for my safety, so I shot him. Okay he’s following procedures’ I mean, it keeps happening. We’ve had one shot dead in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cherokee</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> and the guy in Lawrenceville that was executed in his own home and nobody’s going to get punished.” Wisconsin is setting up a system that a third party review panel under departments of the state will review a police afflicted death along with other efforts to curve no knock warrants in both the Senate and the House.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Liz Baxter, Council Member Ward 4 in <st1:city w:st="on">Woodstock</st1:city>, just finished police academy and has been considering her stance on the issue. “I have bent my views on different things. For lack of a better term, I guess I’m on the fence right now.” Baxter said “Several years ago, they had a set up where you go into the place and either shoot or not shoot. It was an exercise that was all paper, but I don’t know what it would be like in real life.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The consensus amongst those in attendance was to focus the issue around the motives behind the polices actions. Discussing from the police perspective, SWAT team training to be prepared to kill depending on who they are dealing with along with the lack of research on both the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cherokee</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>and Lawrenceville incidents. <st1:place w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:place>argued from the perspective of the officer rather than the fourth amendment posing the question if it was justifiable to put the officers in danger. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city>affirms, however, that the idea of rights endowed to us as human beings are not a product of the government but must be protected by the people and the government at all costs. “There is a frightening lack of understand about American exceptionalism, rights, and history in this generation” said <st1:place w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:place> “When our citizens understand these principles, they are prepared to safeguard them for themselves as well as for future generations.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The idea of unalienable rights is not only integral to <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city>’s beliefs but his whole philosophy on government. <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city>’s first bid for office was in 2010 at the age of 21 which despite his strong beliefs, it was not likely that he would attain much of the vote. “At the beginning of my first bid for a seat in our State Legislature in 2010, I sat with an influential State senator. We spoke for nearly an hour and at the end, he told me that although he appreciated my ideas and beliefs, that at my age if I took 10% of the vote, I would change the way he viewed&nbsp;<st1:place w:st="on">Georgia&nbsp;</st1:place>politics.” said Caldwell&nbsp;“I&nbsp;decided&nbsp;that&nbsp;instead&nbsp;of&nbsp;bowing&nbsp;out,&nbsp;and&nbsp;if&nbsp;we&nbsp;weren’t&nbsp;likely&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;a&nbsp;victory,&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;run&nbsp;a&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;exactly&nbsp;the&nbsp;way&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought&nbsp;a&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;should&nbsp;look.&nbsp;This&nbsp;involved&nbsp;things&nbsp;like&nbsp;self-limiting&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;contributions,&nbsp;prohibiting&nbsp;myself&nbsp;from&nbsp;accepting&nbsp;funding&nbsp;from&nbsp;anyone&nbsp;other&nbsp;than&nbsp;<st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region>’s&nbsp;citizens&nbsp;or&nbsp;businesses,&nbsp;setting&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;standard&nbsp;for&nbsp;transparency&nbsp;through&nbsp;tools&nbsp;like&nbsp;online&nbsp;fund&nbsp;trackers&nbsp;and&nbsp;legislative&nbsp;trackers,&nbsp;and&nbsp;more.&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;no&nbsp;preconception&nbsp;of&nbsp;what&nbsp;a&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;“should&nbsp;look&nbsp;like”&nbsp;Though&nbsp;that&nbsp;felt&nbsp;like&nbsp;my&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;weakness&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;time,&nbsp;hind&nbsp;sight&nbsp;has&nbsp;shown&nbsp;me&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;actually&nbsp;my&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;strength.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city>took 46% of the votes on Election Day, losing by about 200 votes, an experience that made an impact on his career as a politician. “Now that I have won and lost, I have a clear favorite, but I wouldn’t trade my loss in 2010 for anything. I learned more through that process and experience than I could have learned in five wins.” <st1:city w:st="on">Caldwell</st1:city> stated that both the State of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>face a “daunting” number of issues in the future. He informs voters that we could solve 90% of <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>’s problems “if we could just get elected officials to maintain their oaths of office, to uphold the Constitutions of ‘this State and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>.’ </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-65143024329638628782014-09-28T15:32:00.000-07:002014-09-28T15:32:14.365-07:00SGA Beat 10/1The Center for Student Leadership attended the SGA meeting on September 18 to discuss their<br /><br />&nbsp;newest programs of interest. Their programs are primarily to aid students in different areas of their<br /><br />college paths. Mentioned on the SGA minutes are the following programs. President Emerging<br /><br />Global Scholars, which provides international travel and research opportunities, while THRIVE<br /><br />helps first year students with HOPE scholarship to maintain the scholarship and provides extra<br /><br />support. Other programs listed include L.E.A.D OWLS is for athletics teaching students athletes<br /><br />better leadership on and off the field, LINK which helps with peer editing, and Engaged Owl<br /><br />Leadership for students assuming leaderships roles such as SGA or Residence Assistant.<br /><br />CSL also announces their new FLY workshops, a series of different free workshops throughout the<br /><br />year focusing on developing better personal leadership skills. The CSL state on their website that the<br /><br />workshops are committed to "help each participant to become a better leader on KSU's campus and in <br /><br />the global community."<br /><br />Each student attending twelve of the twenty scheduled meetings will be recognized as a FLY<br /><br />graduate and will receive a completion certificate.<br /><br />The CSL will come out to classes and events to teach about the CSL and offer leadership counseling<br /><br />for students who are unaware what to do if they would like to get involved. It will be an advisor to<br /><br />help get students connected and keep them involved over their college career.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-86874723135340421502014-09-19T09:03:00.000-07:002014-10-07T11:02:45.040-07:00College payment options unheard ofLindsay Knox currently serves as Director of Student Affairs for the Kennesaw State Student<br /><br />Government Association. She is currently a senior at KSU majoring in Early Childhood Education.<br /><br />&nbsp;Despite her rank on the SGA, however, Knox does not pay for school with any scholarships.<br /><br /><br />"I tookout my first loan this semester, and the rest of it my parents pay for"&nbsp;Knox said.&nbsp;"I applied for<br /><br />many scholarships, but I wasn't awarded any from the university." This is the plight Knox describes<br /><br />for most students she comes across, whether it pertains to herself, her friends, or the students that<br /><br />may come to her for advice.<br /><br /><br />Rising tuition rates make college financially burdening to both traditional and non-traditional<br /><br />students. Most students have either their parents pay for school, or the means of student loans.<br /><br />Student loans are always expected to be paid back, occasionally over a long period of years, and can<br /><br />accumulate into a massive amount of debt. Unbeknownst to many, there are scholarship<br /><br />opportunities that often go unnoticed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Many colleges hold what is called a Scholarship Day. Students with over a 3.5 GPA in high school<br /><br />are eligible to be awarded scholarships with amounts of money able to rise depending on grades of<br /><br />the applicant. This is the means by which Marissa D'Onofrio, a Physics Major at Berry College, is<br /><br />&nbsp;able to pay for a private college education.<br /><br /><br />"I attended a Scholarship Day, and if you had a 3.5 you were able to win about 7K. I would up<br /><br />walking away with $14,500." Berry College's scholarship day in particular receives a lot of funding<br /><br />from alumni and important big names such as Henry Ford to be made possible. D'Onofrio's success<br /><br />in high school also helped her achieve many other scholarships and aid to cover expenses for her<br /><br />private school education. Most universities will provide the chance for students to win several small<br /><br />scholarships to add up to paying the entire bill.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />D'Onofrio also qualified for a Berry Needs Based Grant of $5,000, which is provided for students<br /><br />with eligible parental&nbsp;income, and a Georgia Tuition Equalization of $700. Georgia Tuition <br /><br />Equalization provides non-repayable grants to eligible full time students in the state of Georgia <br /><br />attending private schools. The goal is to provide an equal opportunity for private schoolers to obtain <br /><br />aid when the HOPE Scholarship does not include funding for private school education. In addition, <br /><br />she receives room and board half off for working as a Residence Assistant. RA positions at most <br /><br />campuses can have similar benefits, not only discounted or free housing but also free parking passes,<br /><br />reduced meal costs, and lower tuition. Resident Assistant jobs often come with heavy responsibilities,<br /><br />&nbsp;from mentoring younger students to solving roommate and neighbor conflicts depending on the <br /><br />university. D'Onofrio also received a scholarship from Delta through her father's work and received <br /><br />added benefits by working in the dining hall. She is enrolled in a student work program which is <br /><br />helping her pay back her lone student loan of $5,000. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Students also may receive scholarships from being involved in on-campus clubs most notably<br /><br />&nbsp;fraternities and sororities. Senator at large Vivian Okere earned money for her enrollment in an on-<br /><br />campus sorority "I received a scholarship from the sorority I am in, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which is<br /><br />&nbsp;available only for people in the sorority."&nbsp;Okere said&nbsp;"Most of it is merit based, you qualify if you<br /><br />have a three point five but if you have a 4.0 you are more likely to receive the aid."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Alpha Kappa Alpha offers a multitude of scholarships for both high school and college students<br />&nbsp; <br />providing information about the donor, amount of the scholarship, and specific criteria for eligibility.<br /><br />Scholarships are&nbsp;limited to one per student and require the students to be high achieved, hence<br /><br />placing a strong emphasis on grade point average. All of the scholarships listed on the AKA website<br /><br />honor former members of the sorority and are focused on giving applicants an opportunity for a<br /><br />higher education.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Some students may not make the grades for these opportunities, and even more so have learning<br /><br /><br /><br />disabilities that prevented them from excelling in high school. Through the help of a government<br /><br /><br /><br />agency, students can not only acquire much needed costs for college but also benefits for the future.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Division provides services to people with disabilities to help<br /><br /><br /><br />them in their transition into the work force and also help them to get hired by employers seeking<br /><br /><br /><br />those with disabilities. Anyone with a disability that can affect their work in two or more ways are<br /><br /><br /><br />eligible to apply, and each case is considered individually. In addition to this, they provide tuition<br /><br /><br /><br />payments for college students with disabilities.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jerica Dixon, a representative of GVRA, said "We provide help to all people with disabilities that<br /><br /><br /><br />cause an impediment in your work. Whether it be physical, mental or developmental, all people with<br /><br /><br /><br />disabilities are eligible to apply." The school system will usually identify a student as a potential<br /><br /><br /><br />candidate and if a student is either interested or referred by a teacher, the teacher will later make<br /><br /><br /><br />contact with the parents or legal guardian to enlist support. &nbsp;Much like most financial aid, however,<br /><br /><br /><br />GVRA only pays for a percentage of the final bill in a system called Call Sharing. This is done<br /><br /><br /><br />through a precalculated percentage based on parent's or your own income shown on taxes, the<br /><br /><br /><br />FAFSA, and any other aid that the student has been awarded by the university.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />GVRA's main priority, however, is to get disabled people into the workforce. "What we do is we<br /><br /><br /><br />help meet your vocational goal." said Dixon. "You set up a plan and we help you go over your plan<br /><br /><br /><br />and check up on the progress." &nbsp;Services will only be given to those that hope to achieve a vocational<br /><br /><br /><br />goal in a career of their choice and to become employed based on that goal. Services do require you<br /><br /><br /><br />meet financial eligibility and all paid expenses by the agency must be approved by a VR counselor in<br /><br /><br /><br />advance.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When an applicant and a VR counselor agree that the applicant is ready to work, the VR staff will<br /><br /><br /><br />help the applicant to become employed. Services provided include resume development, interview<br /><br /><br /><br />preparation, and job referrals. The services that GVRA or any Vocational Rehabilitation agency does<br /><br /><br /><br />not stop at college, but helps those with disabilities put their foot in the door of being a success in the<br /><br /><br /><br />workforce. VR staff believes that finding the right job is the chief goal in providing aid to disabled<br /><br /><br /><br />people and the active participation that is needed from the individual financially is an essential part<br /><br /><br /><br />of making the process possible.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A various amount of scholarships are also available to students who are not disabled but do not<br /><br /><br /><br />have the highest grade point average either. Scholarships.com provides lots of different bizarre<br /><br /><br /><br />nontraditional opportunities to receive funds for school. Such opportunities include scholarships for<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />writing an essay or studying abroad, or there are scholarships available based on the applicants race,<br /><br /><br /><br />religion, or marital status. Examples of these include the ABA Diversity Scholarship or the ACHE<br /><br />Albert W Dent scholarship to aid minorities or the Jeanette Rankin Fund scholarships that are a<br /><br />benefit to single mothers. Each of the scholarships have different qualifications and requirements<br /><br />which makes it possible for more people in certain circumstances to get a college education.<br /><br /><br />Best Buy once offered a scholarship opportunity for students, but has since permanently closed.<br /><br />Since it began in 1999, the program's website reports that it awarded nearly $22 million to more than<br /><br />17,600 students in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company will continue to be focused on<br /><br />teens preparing for college by providing opportunities for teens to improve their tech skills to further<br /><br />future career and education opportunities. They currently hold Teen Tech centers and Teen Tech<br /><br />summits that provide an opportunity for teens to explore different technology to acquire the<br /><br />necessary skills. The company does these programs as a way to add service to the community.<br /><br /><br />Though various alternatives to the loan process exist, they do serve as an important gateway to a<br /><br />student's success. It may be the last resort and Lindsay encourages anyone who may ask her that the<br /><br />payoff is worth the risk. "Being around my friends, I've noticed that most students use loans and<br /><br />work to pay" said Knox. "When someone is considering taking out a loan, I try to tell them that<br /><br />although it is considered going into debt that loans aren't bad if it means you are getting an<br /><br />education. Then it's worth it because education is priceless and the key to success."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-2260476818693789672014-09-04T21:11:00.003-07:002014-09-26T20:08:19.104-07:00New connector bridge eases transportationThe Cobb County Department of Transportation is working on constructing the new Skip Spann Connector bridge to cut down traffic for Kennesaw State students. &nbsp;The project is aiming to provide a better and safer route to not only Kennesaw State but also Towne Center Mall and other local destinations. "KSU is growing, and Chastain Road becomes maxed out. So the bridge will offer an alternative to going down Chastain." said James Hutchens from the Department of Transportation.<br /><br />Kennesaw State's 25,000 commuter students no longer have to share the same route bringing motorists from I-75 to U.S. 41, causing a vast amount of congestion in the morning hours. The bridge is a $17.5 million project which according to the Cobb County DOT model will reduce traffic on Chastain Road by 19 percent.<br /><br />The Skip Spann Connector will be over I-75 north of Chastain Road. The bridge is also a roundabout at Busbee Drive and TownPark Lane. Roundabout have a history of being a safer way to drive. Reduced delay time for vehicles passing means less confusion about four-way stops and also calms down traffic by slowing down the speed limit and directing cars in a little circle to their intended destination. Speeds at roundabouts are generally 25 MPH or lower causing shorter break time and longer decision making time.<br /><br />"When the South finally adopted roundabouts, Cobb County saw a huge decrease in traffic. Now there are about 5 or 6 roundabouts in the West Cobb area." said James Hutchens "There's no traffic light and everyone moves at slower speeds."<br /><div><br /></div>Some commuter students are reticent to the development. "<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I don't think that they would decrease it because in a roundabout people don't signal or use it properly so people sometimes have no idea where they are going." Said Alyssa Wright, a KSU commuter student from Marietta. "</span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, our roundabouts have plants or other things in the center so it makes it more difficult to see, therefore making it more dangerous." </span><br /><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br />A roundabouts purpose is to be a safe way to direct traffic. In a roundabout, the driver can easily navigate through a roundabout simply by seeing if there is another driver currently in the circle. If there is no car in the circle or the other driver has just moved into the circle, the first driver may pass with quick reaction time. If there is a wreck in a roundabout, the damage will be slim to none. The worst on average is perhaps a fender bender or a dent that is much less dangerous and costly than a crash involving injury or fatality.<br /><br /><br />According to the Cobb County DOT Website, a 2002 study reflects these facts, reporting a 60% decrease in total crash rates, an 82% reduction in injury crashes, and a 100% reduction in fatality crashes. The roundabout also benefits from lower electricity and maintenance cost that come with traffic lights and also a very unique aesthetic look.<br /><br />Roundabouts have also been known to be environmentally friendly by reducing air pollution. Because the flow of traffic is improved, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions are also reduced. They are also safer for pedestrians, who have a lot of walking room on sidewalks across the perimeter and cross only one direction of traffic.<br /><br /><br /><br />More information about roundabouts and the construction process can be found at the Cobb County<br /><br />website at&nbsp;http://www.cobbcounty.org/images/documents/dot/SkipSpann/roundabout_march2013_flyer.pdf.Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-37350054106197067542014-08-20T20:08:00.001-07:002014-08-23T18:20:05.767-07:00SGA Beat 8/26Following the Fall Retreat, the Student Government is looking to enter the year with a bang. During the retreat, it was decided that the main focus of this year was governance, particularly reaching out to students so that their voices would be heard by faculty and administration. Using the tagline "Speak up: Let Your Voice Be Heard", the current goal to approach the topic of consolidation is to work closely with SGA officers at Southern Polytechnic to establish one consolidated Student Government. &nbsp;This includes the students at Southern Polytechnic as well, as the KSU SGA is currently creating a governance document for the new consolidated SGA. This document will be submitted by Sept. 30, so all students even the new up and coming ones will be represented.<br /><br />The SGA also would like to notify students of the new tobacco policy administered by the Board of Regents that all tobacco products are not permitted on any University system of Georgia campuses. The ruling will be in effect on Oct. 1st. In addition to implementing this new policy, KSU has developed a "Breathe Easy" campaign that will promote healthy lifestyles for all students. Guest speakers will also be invited around this time to speak at general body meetings to discuss the policy and implementation. Rachel Martini said the dates for the sepakers will be determined soon.<br /><br />The first Student Government meeting of the Fall Semester is August 28th at 3:30 p.m. in the University Rooms. Be there to show your support and raise any concerns you may have.<br /><br /><br />Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-34937772435084908752014-08-14T08:50:00.000-07:002014-08-15T19:34:34.125-07:00Consolidation updates: SGA going into Fall SemesterThe Student Government at Kennesaw State is looking to form a single student government with Southern Polytechnic following the school's joining together in 2015. The SGA has posted a link on their website to the new up and running consolidation website. The site shows the month by month progress of the consolidation between Kennesaw and SPSU as one Student Government after the schools combine in 2015, which has slightly gone forward since June.<br /><br />The Consolidation Implementation Committee handles the decision making process regarding the new university's structure, vision, and mission statement. Their membership has expanded, adding twelve faculty members representing the academic schools of SPSU and the degree granting colleges of KSU. This helped extend the CIC from 28 members to 47 members handing the selection process. Two academic deans and department chairs were also added from each school.<br /><br />The CIC has approved 191 recommendations regarding the 81 Operational Working Groups (OWG's), who is responsible for most of the work on the consolidation. The groups are divided into categories such as Faculty Affairs, Overall University Structure, and Academic Degrees and Programs. &nbsp;48 of the OWG's were completed in May. Due to long term requirements, the CIC and&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Expanded Consolidation Implementation Committee</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">&nbsp;(ECIC) have asked for extensions in their work on the other 33 yet to be completed. The list of the people involved with the OWGS can be found at&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">http://www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com/committee-members/working-groups/working-groups-leadership-and-responsibilities/.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Changes have been made to ensure the transition of the consolidation moves as quickly as possible. Dr. Ron Koger was named interim president of SPSU by University System of Georgia chancellor Hank Huckaby in late May and Professor Richard Cole, dean of the School of Architecture and Construction Management, was chosen to serve as interim vice president for Academic Affairs. This is following former president Dr Rossbacher and former VPAA Zvi Szafran's decision to accept presidential positions at other universities. In addition, director of recreational sports Karl Staber will serve as interim VP for Student Enrollment Services and Jim Herbert, director of information technology, will serve as interim chief information officer (CIO). Their biographies can be found at&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">http://www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com/june-12-2014-interim-president-vice-presidents-cio-named-for-spsu/.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-13369469303767311742014-03-28T11:17:00.003-07:002014-03-28T11:17:25.528-07:00Headline<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">The sentence describing the story. Maybe two sentences. No more than that.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">I really don’t want a lot here.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><a href="http://ccatlanta.blogspot.com/2014/03/headline-for-main-story_28.html" style="color: #de7008;" target="_blank">Headline for main story</a>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><a href="http://ccatlanta.blogspot.com/2014/03/headline-for-sidebar-one_28.html" style="color: #de7008;" target="_blank">Headline for sidebar</a>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><a href="http://www.externallink.com/" style="color: #de7008;" target="_blank">External Link</a>&nbsp;</div>Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-38651309452250481962014-03-28T11:17:00.000-07:002014-03-28T11:17:02.558-07:00Headline for sidebar one<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">Assume that your reader did not read the main story. Reintroduce your interviewees. Tell them again the main topic. And make sure you have a nut graph that tells them the point of the sidebar.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Your sidebar should be about 200-300 words long. One page or a page and a half is plenty.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Asdf kl;’ asd fl;ka;’sldf</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 26px;"><br /></div>Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-84050870735166520282014-03-28T11:16:00.001-07:002014-03-28T11:19:51.885-07:00Headline for the main story<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b>Headline from sidebar that is a Link to Sidebar<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>By Your Name<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then do a lead that is not a repeat of the paragraph on the layer one page. Assume the reader did not read the paragraph on the layer one page.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Asdf;ksdal; f’ksasl f;sa;f sad/<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Alsdkf ;’sa sl;af ks;ad lf<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">After three or four graphs, put in a subhead.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Subhead one<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then keep going with the story. If you refer to the sidebar topic, underline it and parentheses the headline for the sidebar as if it were a <u>link</u> (headline of sidebar). If you refer to your external link be sure to put it in parentheses also (<a href="http://www.externallink.com/">www.externallink.com</a>).<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">Insert your graphic (picture) where appropriate and don’t forget to say in the caption who took the picture. If it’s not immediately clear or obvious what the picture is or who the picture is of, put the person’s name or a brief description of the scene in the caption as well. You could also post your graphic in a separate post. If you do that, be sure to put a headline on the graphic post and link that headline on the homepage. (see below)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTkhFwsRv2s/UzW8OCOc8SI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Y4IfcYZ0fRk/s1600/Dr.+Carlson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTkhFwsRv2s/UzW8OCOc8SI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Y4IfcYZ0fRk/s1600/Dr.+Carlson.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTkhFwsRv2s/UzW8OCOc8SI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Y4IfcYZ0fRk/s1600/Dr.+Carlson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">Carolyn S. Carlson (Photo by Jake McNeill)</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></o:p></div>Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-77173497147866994072014-03-23T18:32:00.000-07:002014-03-23T18:43:19.119-07:00SGA DebateThe great debate for Spring elections took place at Prillaman Hall on Thursday, with our candidates looking to incite excitement in the student body and prepare for the future. The debate featured our President and Vice President candidates. Candidates for President are Alex Templeton, Eric Johnson, Kensley Fields, and current Vice President Khy Chestnut. Vice Presidential candidates are Tkeyah Duke, Je'Nell Hubbard, and Jessica McLeod.<br /><br />Each candidate had their moment to share their agenda with those who attended, most of them focusing on the future of Kennesaw State and a desire to make our mark known as a more prominent university with the upcoming upgrades to the school. Later on, there were general questions regarding hot topic issues going on in the here and now that each candidate prepared an answer.<br /><br />The first question was about the Board of Regents voting to create a policy to prohibit the use all tobacco products in the possession of the University System of Georgia and whether they were for or against it and what they would propose to administration about the policy. Most of the candidates opposed the bill in favor of giving students the right to smoke and use tobacco products. There was also the issue on the opposition of creating safer environments to smoke and the health rights of other students that may be sensitive to the smoke.<br /><br />The second question was what to do about the consolidation with Southern Polytechnic in which the goal is to make them feel welcome and to have more pride as a school before welcoming in newcomers. Because of the negative reaction to the consolidation and the differences in campus culture, there is a desire to create a unity between the two schools.<br /><br />The final question was about the football team and the new events surrounding the coming of the new teams and the role SGA will play in the new program. There is a lot of excitement about the start of the program and dealing with ticket allocations. The goal is to make sure all students are able to attend, as well as alumni.<br /><br /><br /><br />Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-49626721919399410322014-03-15T13:43:00.002-07:002014-03-15T13:43:50.692-07:00Year of Japan storyThe year of Japan series continues at Kennesaw State with a lecture from the president of Honda motor manufacturing in Alabama, Tom Shouppe. Shouppe recently got promoted to chief operating officer of Honda North America starting April 1 and previously served as Senior Vice President of Honda of America Manufacturing and has been with Honda since 1988.<br /><br />The Japanese concept heard often amongst those involved with Honda is Monozukuri, or the art of making things. The motive at Honda motor manufacturing in Alabama is to mold and advance the skills of individuals into a cohesive and successful team. Shouppe, being a baseball fan, used a quote from notable Reds manager Sparky Anderson that the players make the manager, never the other way around. "I think that's very very instructive advice as we consider a topic such as&nbsp;monozukuri and in particular the idea of craftsmanship and innovation." Shouppe said "At Honda, we really view our main business is about people. And the people define who we are and what we are." Associates at Honda are expected to perform to the best of their ability and the notion of craftsmanship deeply understanding what it means to achieve the highest levels of quality for each customer. Honda's foundation in North America was built on associates learn to focus on customer service with a high level of teamwork as well as a passion for overcoming challenges. &nbsp; <br /><br />Thirty years ago, hundreds of experienced engineers from Japan came to Ohio and shared ideas and experiences to make the "Honda Way" work in North America with a conglomeration in Ohio. What was learned was transferred to Alabama, where the creation of the Honda Odyssey had it's start. &nbsp; The knowledge that was transferred has been transferred across America with each generation having the same values, sticking to what they call "The Honda Way" or "Honda Philosophy". Honda will change everything about their company to keep up with the current times and to stay competitive, but one thing they are adamant on never changing is their core values, which are held as the most important element of their work force and also utilizing a Monozukuri spirit. The core values are based around respect for the individual, and the individual's ability and willingness to challenge with their own ideas and their own passion, creating the mindset in associates to constantly question and attempt to innovate. &nbsp;"This makes in many ways the Honda Way or the culture that we've tried to establish a much bigger challenge, but it also creates a bigger opportunity in terms of innovation, growth, and maturity of our people." Shouppe said "So we think for the long term good of the company that this approach is appropriate for us." <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-64349167841913052262013-01-18T08:37:00.000-08:002013-01-18T08:37:17.481-08:00Light Under a Bushel: A word or two on Primitive BaptistsAs a serious Christian, it is my duty to God and also my duty before men to rightly divide the Scriptures and to preach the word both in and out of season. Whether or not its mainstream, popular, or in the world's definition "thriving" I still need to uphold it. After careful study of Scriptural beliefs and the denominational summaries accordingly, I found myself at the doorway of the Primitive Baptist Church. A little historical background is that we were always the rebellious ones refusing to go with the winds of change brought into the dwelling place of God that is found in mainstream churches. We refused Constantine and his corrupt Alexandrian text for a Bible that was hand picked by many. Next we rejected the Roman Church for addition of popes, priests, cardinals, musical instruments, and infant baptism. As many maintream Baptists today, we practice believers baptism and baptism by immersion. We've gone by many names in the span of our existence, such as Donatists, Novatians, Paulicans, Albigeneses, etc. the most common being Anabaptist. Now if you were to look up people by these names now, they would have disagreements with us, but these are labels our people no longer identify by for the most part. Life didnt begin in the 21st century people. In the 1830's, there was a split in the Baptist Church regarding foreign mission work. The New Baptists were those who supported the idea, and we, the Old Baptists, were once again reticent and refused. Despite popular belief, this doesnt mean we oppose preaching the gospel. We are still very aware of the command in Mark 16 and the reprisals throughout Scripture on preaching the gospel to every creature. Yet the motives that other denominations have, that those in foreign lands would not get to heaven if our preaching didnt get there, is what we oppose. God did a perfect work in choosing his people from before the foundation of the world and Jesus Christ, a perfect Savior, did a perfect work of redemption without any means of man. You might turn around and ask "What's the point of preaching if everyone is already chosen?" Simply, it's to educate the children of God of their salvation that they may have the hope of Christ here as they live on earth. So you have that historical blip in which we now assume the name "Primitive" Baptists, which means original or first rather than the modern connotation of backwards. This history could go either way on being profitable or not, and maybe other denominations have more, but thats my best understanding of our story. We PB's believe in a perfect Savior who died to redeem all of his people from every kindred tribe tongue and nation. We support the doctrines of grace, that is that man is completely separate from God via the fall of Adam and cannot be reconciled to God, that God chose a portion of mankind (many not few) from before the foundation of the world, that his grace truly is irresistible, and that God will PRESERVE all his sheep, differentiating from Perseverance which is also dependent on man. In our practice, we follow that we believe to be the New Testament example. Most of our churches do not have worship accompanied by musical instruments of any kind and instead the congregation rises up with one voice and makes a melody in their heart to the Lord by the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Unlike many denominations, we typically do not offer such programs as Sunday School, Youth Group, or any other groups segregated by age, gender, marital status, or any other identity that is unique about an individual child of God. Instead, everyone congregates together in an integrated fashion in one place and teach and admonish one another. Likewise, parents are firmly given their scriptural duty to bring up their children in the nurture and&nbsp;admonition of the Lord. Our elders are trained, yet not on a collegiate level. There is scarcely a man of God called to preach in our churches that has participated in "seminary". Our mode of choosing pastors is that a man from the congregation (and yes, no female preachers) expresses his desire to preach and begins speaking at his home church and local churches until it is decided that he is to be ordained by the laying on of hands by a presbytery, which in my best definition, is a group of elders. I realize a lot of what is said here is unique and uncommon and may stir questions and discussions, and I am open to that. Yet many my try to yell and scream at me about being too, well, "primitive" in my approach, which not be ugly but that can often be interpreted as having little support for your own position. Just my humble opinion.Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-44347648981558633162013-01-18T08:02:00.001-08:002013-01-18T08:02:22.774-08:00Cold weather in the SouthI live in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia a little North of the capital city where the weather of choice is dog day heat or just warm enough to survive a freeze of a deadly sixty degrees. Last night, we had snow warnings so I couldn't make it out to church and I was afraid to leave the house for fear of getting in a bad accident or just getting stuck somewhere on the road where I couldn't move. Turns out I didnt see a freckle of snow, not even hail or sleet, no black ice, and as I am writing this article the sun is pouring in through the window. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Too bad the South was expecting a post-Christmas winter wonderland today just because we had a draft that went a little under last night. Everything went fine, we all got home from work and ate our supper, traffic wasn't bad, and as far as I know nobody died in an automobile wreck, or even got in one for that matter. Now I cant say I've never seen snow in the South because I have. My senior year of high school, we had a White Christmas which was our first since the Priting Press' hay day when everyone drove horse and buggies. But all in all, this is Heat Miser territory y'all. If it isn't seriously bad, please dont entertain me with the thought of something that won't happen.Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376286498584009498.post-37499644473111519692013-01-17T13:26:00.000-08:002013-01-17T13:26:15.845-08:00Commentary on Manti Te'o Girlfriend ScandalThe breaking news headline amidst the myriad of seriously bad just gal dang terrible journalism no one cares about on January 17, 2013 is that star Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te'o's supposed "hero" story is partially a hoax. Apparently his "girlfriend", who was said to have died the same week as his grandmother, is a fake. Meaning she wasn't dating Mr. Te'o, she didnt really know him, she may have not even known what football was let alone the prestigious history in South Bend where the team under the golden dome and the painted graven image of "Touchdown Jesus" have the moniker of "Playing like a champion today". A tradition they passive-aggressively threw in the garbage can with their 42-14 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship last Monday. If that wasn't enough, now they have this. Now whoever the Irish students were that presented this lie of a heartfelt bitter end to an obviously promising relationship that had nothing to do with Manti's success or the sheer fact that he's a football player and was clearly love at first sight and would have turned out like the running back and cheerleader who got engaged after the 2006 Fiesta Bowl (arguably one of the best College Football games of all time) and Manti himself for lying about it this whole time have brought more shame to the once-dominant 2012 football program at the University of Notre Dame. This year's National Championship game, for every minute of a total crap shoot the actual game was, it may become the most notable game in recent NCAA lore for simply being the most controversial off the field. First Brent Musberger is whipped by feminist pariah for his innocent remark of the often agreed upon beauty of Katherine Webb-McCarron, now while AJ gets his hottie, Manti's little lady caller doesn't exist. My only words to say on this subject is this: Mr. Te'o, we all want a girlfriend, okay? I'm a single man myself who would love a relationship more than the lottery or a Republican president back in the office, but sometimes we just dont win here in this life. Not only that, but faking a girlfriend just makes you come off desperate like an actor in a breakout movie. Hey, you didnt get the Heisman, or the crystal ball, but wait until late February. You may give Daniel Day-Lewis a run for his money for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. Just my humble opinion.Jackson Walshhttps://plus.google.com/101339833096647206128noreply@blogger.com0